Though Penn's move eastward dominated much of the conversation about campus expansion over the summer, several projects closer to Penn's core have also been under way. Construction continued through the muggy Philadelphia summer, and students are returning to a newly completed building and a rapidly changing campus.

The third time's the charm - at least that's officials are hoping in regards to the retail space at 3716 Spruce St.

This school year marks the 40th since Penn adopted its modern undergraduate-admissions policy. Not that you'd know: The University hasn't held any essay competitions or thrown any parties, as it did last year in honor of Benjamin Franklin's 300th birthday.

A map holds pushpins marking the hometowns of international students now at Penn. The Class of 2010 is notable for having a larger portion of students from abroad than previous classes had.

Despite opposition, casinos still on track Proposed slot parlors are still on track to open in Philadelphia in the coming years, despite protests by local residents. Five companies have applied for the two Philadelphia licenses and are awaiting the decision of the Pennsylvania Gaming Board.

New men's basketball coach Glen Miller hasn't seen his team play a single game yet, but his program has already been hit with a series of unfortunate setbacks that could leave him shorthanded when the season begins.

Despite several shootings on campus this year, officials at Security on Campus think Penn hasn't dropped the ball on safety. In fact, SOC, a national non-profit organization dedicated to preventing violence on college campuses, selected the University to host its kick-off to the second annual National Campus Safety Awareness Month, held yesterday.

All charges have been dropped against College senior Bryan Warner, who was charged with attempted murder earlier this year. The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office dropped the case after the complainant failed to report to court on three separate occasions.

Field hockey coach Val Cloud doesn't know what to expect from her team. "The challenge is, I have a lot of talent, probably more talent than we've ever had before," Cloud said. "But it's like a puzzle, putting the right people in the right spot who play well together.

Irina Malinovskaya, a Wharton undergraduate charged with first-degree murder, will face her second trial Sept. 12. A hung jury voted 11-1 in favor of Malinovskaya's acquittal in February, and prosecutors have decided to hold a retrial. Malinovskaya is accused of murdering Temple University student Irina Zlotnikov.

Get ready to cut the cords. Penn has rolled out wireless access for all 11 college houses and Sansom Place in time for the school year, allowing students to finally break away from their ethernet cables. The project cost $700,000 and was completed in mid-July, said Marilyn Spicer, associate director of computing.

Alcor, a polar bear who underwent major surgery at Penn's George D. Widener Veterinary Hospital, died August 21 on his way back to Ohio. He was brought to Penn because of severe fractures to his right front leg that are believed to have been sustained while he was playing with his brother Mizar.

It could be your worst nightmare. After a night of unprotected sex, women can find themselves scared, confused and at risk for an unplanned pregnancy. These women have had the option of taking emergency contraception - or "the morning-after pill" - since it became available via prescription in 1998.

Philadelphia's political atmosphere may achieve a combustible level by the November 7 elections, but political analysts and campaign representatives say the city is just warming up. Two critical races - one for a U.S. Senate seat and one for governor - have little more than two months to go, and the campaigns are well under way.

Former Penn professor Tracy McIntosh remains on probation as he awaits a superior court decision on whether he will face harsher penalties for his sexual assault conviction. McIntosh was sentenced in March 2005 to 11 to 23 months of house arrest after being charged with sexually assaulting the 23-year-old niece of a close friend when she visited him on campus.

Philadelphia resident John Waynes cools off by wading in a fountain in Love Park while listening to music. Philadelphia was struck by a heat-wave over the summer that sent temperatures well into the 90s. Police threatened to issue $25 tickets to anyone who went into the city's fountains.